January 7, 2013

iPhone/iPad Backups with iTunes on Computer

I just discovered that my iPhone/iPad iTune back ups that I choses to store on my computer take up over 150GB of storage on my computer. Now that was a surprise!

I finally got the iPhone 5 yesterday - Black/64GB/AT&T. Yippy! Of course I wanted to sync all of my iPhone 4S information to the new phone so I plugged it into my laptop and clicked Restore in iTunes. That is when I realized just how many backups I had. There were a dozen or so some of my iPhones and some from my iPads (past and present). Some were dated, others were not so it was actually difficult to decide which backup I wanted to restore to. Well I picked one and the restore began. After a couple hours I discovered I picked the wrong one from about a year ago, so I once again, more carefully this time chose another.
Now I have to admit that I am low on hard drive space on my MacBook. (It seems that these iPhone photos take up more space then I thought.) I was down to only 28GB even after deleting (I first I backed them up on two external drives - one that is kept off site for safe keeping) several old iPhone image folders.
Back to Restoring my iPhone 5.... After choosing the second backup, I went to bed crossing my fingers that the restore would be complete by morning. What I did wake up to was an error message on my computer saying that there wasn't enough space on my computer to complete the process. I checked my hard drive space to discover I went from 28GB to 1.91GB - that was puzzling to me.
So I started to investigate. After some research on the internet I discovered where my iTune backups were stored.
Mac HD/Users/terilou/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup/filenames.
Yes they are buried...and of course named/coded with lots of numbers that are meaningless to me. It was impossible to tell which were old backups and which were current. So instead of just deleting them randomly, I decided to back them up on an external drive. That is when I discovered that they were taking up 150GB of space on my hard drive. Why that surprised me when I have a 64GB iPhone and a 64GB iPad I am not sure but it did! After the MobileSync is completed on my external drive (6 hours is the estimated time needed) I will delete the old files and get back to the iPhone 5 restore sync.

BTW I love the feel of the iPhone 5 in my hand without a cover. I do use screen protectors on the front but usually nothing more. I also to purchase Apple Care that replaces the phone for only $49 if damaged in any way. I just can't wait to take a photo or two with it.

Hope this information is useful to some of you. I was quite surprised at the amount of storage the backups require but then again I do have the 64GB phones and iPads!

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Teri Lou is busy creating MyiPadLive processing videos that will be available for purchase in January. They can be purchased separately or as courses.
Stay tuned for more information in the coming days.

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About Teri Lou

Teri Lou is an iPhone Photography instructor and Palouse Tour Guide, who has combined her passions for photography, traveling and teaching into her career. She currently travels exclusively with just her iPhone camera, throughout the United States, and recently Iceland, Nepal, Thailand, and Cambodia capturing many wonderful sights, landscapes and even an old car every now and then along the way. She believes that taking a photo with the iPhone is only the first step of her creative abilities and that the photographic processing apps have unleashed the true artist in her. With a goal of wanting to inspire, motivate, and show what is photographically possible with this wonderful device, Teri Lou has become a famous iPhoneography instructor to people of all ages and from over the world. She enjoys sharing her vast knowledge of relevant applications, her excitement and passion. She believes that through play and exploration of the apps on the iPhone and iPad the door to limitless creative expression and fun is wide open. Contact her at teri@terilou.com

More Teri Lou

Online Course Testimontial

Teri Lou can teach you all things iPhoneography. She has an amazing breadth and depth of knowledge and expertise and backs it all up with inspiring works of her own AND contagious enthusiasm. Her online course sparked a level of excitement and amazement I didn’t expect and I am thrilled to be a part of her learning and creative community. Getting to be involved in the private Teri Lou Group on Facebook is a big bonus. And it would appear the new Google+ info will make for even more creative possibilities. Teri Lou is a master willing to share her knowledge with all who want to learn this truly exciting new artform. Don’t wait another minute...big possibilities await you! ~Nancy Bardos

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Workshop Testimonial

Minor White once said "Photography is a language more universal than words.". Teri Lou sees life through the lens of her iPhone and brings high energy and enthusiasm to a new artistic medium. She strives to instill this concept in her students and conveys information in a compassionate and patient way. She is extremely approachable and more than willing to give each student the attention they deserve. Class does not end when the bell rings! ~ Joleen Roe

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My Definition of iPhoneography

Capturing images with iPhone cameras and/or, editing and processing of photographic images in the applications developed for those devices (including the iPad). Through play and exploration you can create artistic imagery with possibilities of ever expanding proportion.